Ditching Fashion Trends and Expressing Your Authentic Self

Editorial Assistant Amy Shelton writes a snappy style guide to reference when feeling stuck and uninspired by the online trend cycle.

With the internet feeding us the fashion of the elite, influencers and ‘cool girls’, it is easy to be sucked into the endless cycle of constant new trends and sameness.

Right now, there are a few fashion pieces considered ‘in’: split-toe shoes, ‘Clean Girl’ makeup and hair, and low-rise jeans (as an androgynous teenager, I love the low-rise, baggy jeans trend). 

I used to be a victim of trends, and I still sometimes am. I think a girl looks good in something, so I mindlessly decide that I want to wear that too. And often, I try to wear it, whether it’s the slicked-back bun or Doc Marten lace-up boots (as witnessed back in the late 2010s). But I don’t feel like myself. 

Don’t get me wrong, I think both are cool. I love the aesthetics of both, but I feel my best when I wear clothes that express who I am rather than just copying the trends of the moment. This also saves money, as I am not constantly buying new things, but rather staying consistent with what I like and what I feel best in. 

So how do we express ourselves with fashion? It’s something we hear, but it seems like such a vague, abstract idea. Firstly, I think we need to know ourselves, our likes and dislikes, confidently.

Something I like to do is grab a handful of random items on the rack with no intention of buying them, go to the fitting room and take note of which items I feel most confident and myself in. For example, I didn’t know that I would feel great in a white mini dress with frilly sleeves, but I did.

Another thing to do is to find your style icons. Which celebrities or people on the street are you drawn to outfit-wise? What about their outfits do you like? Try to grab a handful of style icons and write down exactly what you like about their style. Maybe you like that Jackie Kennedy looks sophisticated and intelligent, or you envy Miley Cyrus’ free-spirited approach. 

Here you can find parts of yourself that you also want to express. Who do you envy? If you envy someone, it is often because you want something that they have, and if it is a personality trait, there’s a good chance that it exists within yourself too. I have an old friend who used to be very quirky in high school. Now, in her early twenties, she is confident in expressing this through colourful, often mismatched and striking outfits. Another example is that I love classic, tailored clothing; however, I don’t always feel my best when wearing a full tailored outfit. That is because I feel a bit restricted in this clothing. I might therefore pair a blazer with baggy jeans or a dress. Dressing the outfit down a bit makes it more wearable, and with comfort comes confidence.

Feeling comfortable in your clothing is all about embracing yourself rather than embracing trends. Trends can be fun, but by knowing yourself and feeling safe to express yourself, your outfits will come to life. 

by Amy Shelton